Life Care Center of Kirkland helps respiratory patient get back on her feet

When Betty Ford came to Life Care Center of Kirkland, Washington, for rehabilitation, she was recovering from double pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Betty was functionally a quadriplegic when she arrived on Feb. 29, 2020. She was unable to walk, stand or even wheel herself in a wheelchair, and she needed maximum assistance for transfers from one surface to another. She needed moderate assistance with bed mobility.

Physical and occupational therapists worked with Betty to help her regain as much independence as possible. Occupational therapy focused on grooming, dressing and functional transfers, while physical therapy helped Betty through strengthening, bed mobility, transfers from one surface to anther and using assistive devices. Eventually, she began to walk, which is something she hadn’t been able to do for more than four months.

“The first time I got up and walked after so many months, it was like winning the lottery,” Betty shared.

She also has some advice for other patients going through therapy treatments: “Never give up.”

Betty moved into a new condo on June 29 with assistance from her family. She is now independent in her bed mobility and wheelchair mobility and modified independent in her transfers. She can stand and walk with standby assistance.